Library plans busy 2013

Jan. 10, 2013

Ann Kling / Beacon library

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There’s no shortage of new programs, offerings, changes, excitement and enthusiasm at the Clearview Library District in 2013.

Library Director Ann Kling pointed to several new programs kicking off at the Windsor-Severance Library and throughout the library district, while encouraging patrons and library users to keep up to speed with the library using a variety of methods.

“We’re shifting our newsletter from what has happened to what is coming,” she said. “You can sign up for that on email, as well as liking our Facebook page.

“We try to keep our Facebook page light and bright.”

Last year was a transitional year for the library, as 2012 was Kling’s first year as director. Much of the year was spent learning and refining procedures and policies, and with that done, 2013 promises to focus on the bigger things.

One area of emphasis is an expansion of adult programs and offerings.

“We’ve got a special tasting coming with High Hops brewery on Saturday to let people learn a little bit about homebrewing beer,” Kling said. “We’ve also got a wine and chocolate event coming up just before Valentine’s Day.”

There will also be some opportunities to try new things, such as a one-time Zumba class.

“We’re not trying to compete with area fitness,” Kling said.

And with the holidays not far behind, the library’s technology department is offering a series of classes for adults who received new e-reader devices to teach them to check out library e-books.

“We’ll have classes for the Nook, Kindle and iPad,” Kling said.

Other favorite programming will stay in place moving forward, including the early literacy classes for parents and young children, and the Open Mic nights on Thursdays.

Like book clubs, but can’t make the regular Monday or Thursday meetings? The library district is now offering an online-only book club with electronic message board discussions.

“They’re starting with “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” and there are also young adult offerings,” Kling said.

The bookmobile has some new things happening as well; a new iPad and iPad minis are now on board the bookmobile for use at all of its stops.

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“We’re also bringing along craft kits for kids who’d like to try those,” Kling said.

The bookmobile has an active weekly schedule and makes stops all over the district including at a handful of schools, parks, area businesses and residential neighborhoods. The schedule is posted on the library’s website in their calendar information.

At the Windsor-Severance library, where the demand for computers and connectivity is increasing, the library is getting a new vending machine with six laptops for library patron use.

“You’ll swipe your library card and check out a laptop for use within the building,” Kling said. “And when you’re done, the machine will wipe the laptop, so you won’t have to worry about anyone accessing your personal data, and charge it for the next user.”

The vending machine is expected to be in place at the end of January.

Keeping up with patron demand is a constant challenge, Kling said. She said the library’s usage numbers went up across the board last year.

“And not just by 2 or 3 percent; they went up by double digits in everything from programming to bookmobile use to physical circulation to virtual circulation,” she said. “It’s not like that everywhere, with all libraries, so it’s good to know our users are getting real value from the library.”

The most popular items for checkout are the e-books, which the library can’t seem to stock fast enough, games for consoles and PCs, DVDs and Blu-rays.

“We’re adding new e-book titles and bestselling authors regularly, both as part of the consortium that we have joined and just for our library,” Kling said. “I have a new e-reader myself, so I understand how frustrating it is when there aren’t any titles available you want to read.”

More of the library’s budget for adding materials will go toward e-books now and in the future, and Kling said the library is careful to spend their e-book dollars on popular books with high demand.

“We are also going to expand our audiobook collection, which we’ve discovered is very popular,” she said. “There are a lot of commuters in our community who want to listen to audiobooks as they go to and from work.”

There are going to be some changes in the actual library building as well; in keeping with the theme of pushing new technology, a Creation Space is going to be added.

“We’ll have high-powered Mac computers there, with the ability for recording and programming,” Kling said. “It may not be in its final setup by the end of the year, but the Creation Space will be present in some form.”

Rearranging the interior of the library and creating a long-term vision for the building and any possible future buildings is also on this year’s to-do list.

“The library board has hired June Garcia (a consultant the library has worked with in the past) to create a long-range facilities plan, and we’ll be collaborating with members of the public to do that,” Kling said.